What is the Future for the European Logistics Market?

As global economic dynamics change, emerging markets and changes in trading patterns are having a direct impact on the major trade hubs in Europe.

Based on extensive research into the European logistics market, Colliers International has analysed the factors influencing manufacturing and logistics – including external and internal macroeconomic conditions, infrastructure investments and shifts in supply chains – to determine Europe’s emerging logistics hubs.

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In this paper, the first of a series of white papers on Europe’s industrial and logistics markets, we take a look at the broad macroeconomic trends that we expect to impact the market over the next decade, and beyond. With the key emerging markets, China and India, set to take a larger stake in the global economy as we move forward, it is expected that their trade with Europe will increase.

In this report we analyse in more depth Europe’s existing external distribution networks, focusing on infrastructure developments in air, rail and sea transport and the future prospects for each. Notably, we present more detail on specific infrastructure developments across the continent which will prove key in serving the growth of existing trade routes and the development of new ones.

With strong economic growth forecast for Central and Eastern Europe over the next decade, a reshuffling of European logistics markets is expected. In order to assist in making this growth a future reality, vital improvements in infrastructure are needed. In this paper we look at infrastructure development across the key internal transport modes, and how this fits within the EU’s vision for freight transport across the continent, with particular reference to likely environmental impacts in the future.

Without a doubt, online services and e-commerce are two of the most significant innovations in the global economy in recent years and are expected to continue to reshape not only retail trade, but also other sectors, including the commercial property market. Although online purchases account for only c. 4% of total retail sales in the EU, e-commerce is currently one of the fastest growing markets in Europe.